Well tester



NOV. 26, 1940. G A HUMASON ETAL 2,222,829

WELL TESTER Nov. 26, 1940. G. A. HUMASON ErAL WELL TESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Feb. 4, 1938 5. N. uw E m .c x.. V n# 0b flu M m M04 W w n n 60%e 888 6, w u .w 5 O 4//// 'Y/f/r/ Il 7 .4l lo 9 l 0 u 2 uw ww 3 9 3 3Mu. 4. 9 \|||l nu 6 :Il y!! ff ,rr/f f 'ff/f m 2 W. a n a w e ,as a .u

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application February4. 1938, Serial N0. 188,625

8Claims.

The invention relates to a well sampling device for obtaining a sampleof uid at a desired level within an oil well. together with informe.-tion o1' the temperature and pressure conditions at the level ofsampling.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the class describedhaving few working parts to get out; oi' order and a device which iseasy to construct and operate.

i0 Another object is the provision of a' device for obtaininguncontaminated iiuid sample from within the well bore and at the sametime will permit fluid to be pumped downwardly into the w'ell to assistin releasing and lifting the device from the weil.

Another object is to provide a sample taking device in which theessential moving parts of the device are surrounded by a lubricant.

Still another object is the provision of a device for obtainin'r asample in an oil well together with inforn. tion of the maximumtemperature and pressure at the level of sampling. the device being soconstructed that the pressure indication will not be ail'ected bypumping pressure which may be applied after the sample has been taken.

Other objects together with the foregoing will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings'in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the upper portion of the device ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section comprising a continuation o! the view shownin Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a continuation of the viewehowu in Fig. 2 and shows the lowerend of the device in position within a rat hole at the bottom o! a wellbore.

Figs. 4 and 5 are successive sectional views ci the device showing therelative positions of parte when a sample is being taken.

Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section comprising a continuation o!rthe view shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of a maximum pressure gauge comprising anelement of the invention.

Referring more particularly` tothe drawings the device is shown asconnected to a tubing 5o string i and comprising essentially s.composite stem structure l surrounded by a tubular casing 3 having a rathole packer I secured to the lower g bore I may enter the axial bore 9within the packer l.

A head I l at the upper end of the casing 3 is provided with a centralopening I8 and upwardly extending Jaws i1 which are adapted to co- 5operate with complementary Jaws i8 on a coupling I! which interconnectsthe tubing string I and the stem 2. A nipple 20 is threadedly connectedto the lower end of the head Il in a manner to provide an internalannular groove 1 2i to receive an annuiariiange 22 on a ring 23. Thisring has upwardly and downwardly facing annular grooves 24 and 2t withinwhich seal rings 2l and 11 are secured whereby a sealing u unitgenerally designated as 28 is provided between the casing 3 and the stem2.

A coupling 3i is attached to the lower end of the nipple 2l and has areduced central section provided with threads 32 bymeans or which areleasable connection is effected between the 20casinglandthestem2.aswiilbeiurtherde Tubular sections ll and It extenddownwardly from the coupling li and areinterconnected by means o!coupling Il to provide en annular internal groove 3l whereby a sealingunit 39 similar to the sealing unit 2l. above described. is ilxed inspaced relation with the sealing unit 2s. The packer l is secured to thelower end oi the casing a through s tubular section u con- 3 nested tothe casing structure just described by mans o! a special coupling 4i.This coupling and the tubular -section Il likewise provide an internalannular groove!! by means of which a third sealing unit Il similar tothat above'described is secured within the annular space between theeasing land the stem I. The coupling .he's e central reduced crosssection at u to serve e Illll'pethat will be described.

'rhs tubular section u er tnecssing s is o threadably connected to thehead It of the rat hole packer l which includes a downwardly extendingmandrel!! surrounded by packing discs l1 et decreasing diameter wherebya tapered 45 .packeris provided. The packinis` discs 41 are .heidinessembled relation by means of 'a nange nut- Il to which thetubular-.extension l is at- Athreadedopeninginthelowerendofthegq tubularextension l receives a plug It bearing a maximum temperature indicatingdevice ti. It is believed obvious that with this construction thetemperature indicating device li will provide an indication or themaximum temperature of 5s the iiuid which enters the bore 8 throughopenings 8 in the extension l.

The stem 2 passes through the opening I6 in the head I8 and has a.special coupling 80 inter- 5 mediate its ends. This coupling is providedwith peripheral threads which are adapted to releasably engage thethreads 82 on the coupling 3| whereby the stem 2 may be held in xedrelation with the casing 8.

The stem 2 terminates at its lower end in an enlarged head 6I having apacking ring 82 to seal between the head 6I and the reduced section 44oi the coupling 4I. Vertical passage ways 68 about the axis oi the head6I permit movement oi iluid downwardly through the head to a downwardlyopening valve 68. This valve comprises a cage 68 within which a `balivalve 61 is resilientiy urged upwardly againstga seat 69 by means of aspring 68. This construction closes the passage into the stem 2 againstinward now o1' fluid. 'I'he tension on the spring 68 may be adjusted sothat a valve will open downwardly when a predetermined pressure withinthe stem is reached.

g5 'I'he head BI is also provided with an axial opening 16 into which amaximum pressure indicating device 18 is threadably secured. A radialport 11 connects the axial opening 18 with the periphery oi the stemintermediate the sealing 30 rings on the assembly 42 when the device isbeing lowered to sample taking position as shown in Figs. 1 .to 3. Amaximum pressure gauge of any type maybe used. one ci such gauges beingillustrated in Fig. 7 as comprising a body 80 35 having therein a pistonor plug 8I which is urged downwardly within the body by means o! aspring 82 placed under compression by plug 83 screwed into the body 80.The piston 8| is provided with a stylus or other recording element o 84which is urged sidewardly under the iniiuence oi' spring 88 to contactwith the recording strip 68. By means of this construction a mark willbe inscribed upon the strip 86 which can subsequently be removed. theheight of the 45 record produced upon the strip indicating the maximumpressure to which the sauge was sub- Jected during the sample takingoperation.

A plus 90 within the stem 2 divides the stem into upper and lowerchambers 8| and 92. This 50 plug is provided with longitudinal passages98 about its axis so that iiuid may iiow from chamber 8| to chamber 82.An axial opening 89 in the plug 60 is threaded to receive the lower endof the sample tube 84 'which extends upwardly 55 within the stem 2 andis provided with a relief valve 89 at its upper end. A radial opening 81extends from the hole 88 to the exterior oi the stem 2 and is providedwith a removable plugV 98 having an oriilce 88 therein whereby liquid omay be admitted to the interior of the sample chamber 64 in a mannerthat will be further brought out in the description o! the operation ofthe device.

'I'he relief valve 89 comprises a cage 82 within 65 which a ball valve88'i`s engaged by a plug 84 urged downwardly by means of compressionspring 88 adiustably positioned within the cage by the plug 88. 'Ihecage 82 is provided with a plurality oi ears 81 extending radiallytherefrom 70 serving to keep the sample chamber centered within the stem2.

It is to be noted that the device described may be of any desired lengthand that while the device is shown as provided with a rat hole packer ufor taking samples within the rat hole in the bottom oi a well bore, theinvention is not conilned thereto but the device may be Provided withother types oi packer or wall eng' ns devices to obtain a sample at anylevel vthin a well bore.

When using the construction illustrated, the device is lowered withinthe well bore until the packer 4 is seated within the rat hole 1preliminary to the taking o! a sample oi liquid within the rat hole andbelow the packer. When the device is so positioned the liquid withinthe-'rat hole contacts the maximum temperature indieating device 8| andsui'ilcient time will elapse during the taking of a sample that thetemperature indicator will reach the temperature oi the surroundingliquid.

In order to obtain an indication oi bottom hole pressure and to obtainthe desired sample of liquid, the tubing string I is rotated to releasethe threaded connection between the stem 2 and the casing 8. When thisconnection is released the stem is moved downwardly whereupon thesealing ring 62 will move from engagement between the head 8| and thecoupling 4| and iluid under bottom hole pressure will be admitted to themaximum pressure indicator 16. Continued downward movement oi the stem 2'will cause the o. lnced plug 88 to move below the sealing unit 48whereupon iiuid will move upwardly from within the rat hole into thesample chamber at a rate determined by the dimensions of the orince 88.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, when the device is actuated i'or taking asample. the collar I9 on the tubing I- moves downwardly until the jawsI8 thereon engage the complementary Jaws I1 on the upper end oi thecasing 8. Hence if necessary the entire unit may be rotated through thetubing I preliminary to lifting the device from sample taking position.Normally, however. the tubing string may be lifted without'l suchrotation whereby the passage 11 -to the pressure gauge 18 and theoriiice 98 leading to the sample chamber 64 will be closed of! from thewell liquid as the stem 2 moves upwardly within the casing 8 until thering 82 makes sealing engagement within the reduced section 44. In orderto release the device from its setting within the rat hole, suitabledrilling fluid may be pumped downwardly through the tubing string l. Itis to be note'd that any pressure exerted by this pumping cannot affectthe pressure reading on the gauge 18 since the passage 11 leading to thegauge is closed when the stem 2 is drawn upwardly within the surroundingcasing. Furthermore as the bottom hole temperature is higher than thetemperature oi duid that will be pumped into the well, the reading ofthe maximum temperature indicating device 8| will not be changed by thisprocedure.

What is claimed is:

1. A sampling device i'or oil wells for connection between a packer anda string oi pipe, comprising a stem attached to said string, a casingsurrounding said stem, spaced seals between the stem and casing, aconnection between the stem and casing releasable by operation oi thestring whereby the stem may move longitudinally of the casing, aseparate receiving chamber and a maximum pressure indicator within saidstem, and .an outwardly opening port through the stem from each saidchamber and said indicator, whereby passages to the chamber andindicator are oplned by downward movement of the stem within the casing.

2. A sampling device comprising a casing, a packer on the lower end ofsaid casing to seal with the surrounding walls in a well bore, a tubingstringl a stem within said casing and connected to the tubing string.spaced seals between said stem and casing to form a lubricant chamberwithin the casing, a threaded connection between the stem and casingwhereby the stem may be released for movement longitudinally of thecasing, and a sample receiving chamber within the stem and in spacedrelation with the walls thereof so that fluid may be pumped downwardlypast said chamber, said chamber having an outwardly opening port wherebya passage to the chamber is opened when the stem is moved longitudinallyof the casing.

3. A sampling device comprising a casing, a packer on said casing toseal with the surrounding walls of a well bore, a stem within saidcasing, spaced seals Ibetween said stem. and casing, a releasableconnection between the stem and casing intermediate said seals, and aseparate sample receiving chamber within said stem so that uid may becirculated downwardly past said chamber, there being a passage from theexterior of the stem to said chamber whereby iiuid is admitted to thechamber when the stem is moved downwardly within the casing.

4. A well sampling device comprising a tubular casing, a stem movablelongitudinally within said casing, spaced sealing means between saidstem and casing, a sample chamber within said stem, said chamber havinga port adapted to be valved to admit iiuld thereto by movement of thestem relative to the casing. and separate passages downwardly withinsaid stem past the chamber whereby circulating fluid may be pumpeddownwardly through the stem.

5. A well sampling device comprising a tubing string, a stem attached tothe lower end oi said string, a casing surrounding said stem andreleasably connected thereto, spaced seals between said stem and casing.a cylindrical sample chamber ':thln said stem, a second chamber withinthe stem. a maximum pressure indicator in said second chamber, and aport leading from each said chamber and indicator to the exterior of thestem between the seals whereby iuid is admitted'to the chambers andadmit fluid when the stem is moved longitudinally of the casing.

6. A device of the class described comprising a sample chamber. a stemsurrounding said chamber and in spaced relation therewith, there being apassage from the interior of the chamber to the exterior of the stem, acasing surrounding said stem, a slidable connection between the casingand stem, and seals between said stem and casing bove and below saidpassage.

7. In a device of the class described, a sample chamber, a stemsurrounding said chamber, a passage from said chamber to the exterior ofsaid stem, a downwardly opening valve at the lower end of the stem. acasing surrounding the stem and releasabiy connected thereto s that thestern may move longitudinally relative to the casing and spaced sealsbetween the stem and casing whereby fluid may be admitted to the samplechamber when the passage from the chamber moves from between the seals.

8. A sampling device comprising a casing, means for ilxing the positionof the casing within a well bore. a stem movably mounted within saidcasing, maximum temperature indicating means mounted within said device.whereby the maximum temperature oi' fluid surrounding the device will-be registered thereon. a sample chamber within the stem, there being apassage through the stem past said chamber. and means for admitting uidto said chamber after the device is positioned within the well bore.

GRANVILLE A. HUMASON. WALTER J. CLAY.

